"Bye."
I'm tempted to begin and end this review with that one word, which works both as a reference to an unexpectedly tragic scene midway through "New Year's Eve" that left me speechless and as a way of saying farewell to the ultimately optimistic third season of Louie, which ended with four brilliant episodes in a row. But then I'd have to leave out Amy Poehler's guest spot (Amy Poehler, the Best Lady Around Award winner, not existing in the Louie universe upsets me, however), or how the holidays are an awful time to be alone, or how nothing paints sadness like half-eaten Hostess snacks, or the fantastic music choices used throughout the episode, or how everyone should handle their Christmas trees like Louie did, or how one of real surprises of this season was its fondness for continuity, or how shocking it was for the show to go to China, or how a friend told me the villager at the end was saying, "You are here from a distant land, in my house, to be my guest!"
But "bye" works, too. Season grade: A-
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But I can't have THAT be the last slide. Here's a more optimistic one.
Thumb's up, indeed.
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I watched the show this morning. I realize that when i try to explain this show to people it’s impossible, and this episode made it even harder.
Man did he heap on the sadness, but all toward an end. It makes me wonder once you’ve gone that low and then wound up in china, where do you go next? It’s a perfect series finale, not a season finale.
To me its a show about the moments in life that inspire great stand up bits. Like you can almost see Louie crafting a series of jokes about that experience and while the experience itself is not that funny you can see him finding the humor in them.
I think Liz managed to somehow have a sadder death then Opie…didn’t think that was possible.
It’s been a very good/bad week for TV deaths.
I felt the same way. Liz was not ready. Opie was looking to die. That was soul crushing. Period.
I thought it had to be some messed up dream that Louis was having, but it just kept going and then Louis goes to the airport and I was just floored by the fact that that really happened in the show’s universe.
They way she said it, kind of like a question. “Bye?”
It’s an interesting thought experiment. What would you do/think/say if someone told you you were going to die in 30 seconds? I mean, if someone said 5 years, 1 year, that’s plenty of time to do a ton. But 30 seconds…startiiiiiiing NOW? “WTF?! Am I dying? Bye?”
Anyone recall the name of the news reporters?
Fanny Chapcranter and Flappy Howserton
The female reporter called the male reporter 2 different first names.
I thought it was pretty great, but Liz dying…Jesus. What would’ve been totally awkward and out of nowhere on any other show sort of felt right in place on “Louie.”
And the China thing, I’ve had that idea. When the ones you love are disappearing and you are going solo, those “crazy” decisions from before don’t seem so crazy anymore. It was great to see someone actually do it.
I did that. Didn’t make it quite to China though.
China isn’t my choice either. I went to Australia, but not random enough. How about you?
Louie is fast supplanting Breaking Bad as the best show currently on television.
Guh. Its like you’ve never even seen Minute to Win It.
I have waited until this exact moment to finally make an account. Ever heard of a little show called Oh Sit? Check Please!
^..Of course..that’s because Breaking Bad’s season is over….The first minute it is on, it will regain its crown.
The doll piece had me laughing my ass off.
The Parker Posey had me staring at the TV with my jaw open
And the final scene in China left me grinning like an idiot.
What a show.
The last four episodes have elevated this show from a great show to a legendary one, the kind of show we’ll be talking about decades after its off the air. I find a show usually hits its stride in the second season, but this show just reached a whole new level in the second half of season three. This makes me think season 4 may be even better…
And I agree. You can’t explain this show to people.
I don’t know if this will make everyone feel better or worse, but I don’t think Liz died. I think Louie daydreamed everything after getting onto the bus: running into Liz, Liz dying, going to China, the family at the end. I think in “real life,” he went to Mexico City with his family, and the trip to China was pure fantasy. It just felt too surreal, even for “Louie.”
I hope so. I mean, even for this show, Louis’s seeing Liz again, her suddenly dying and then Louis suddenly going to China just to see a river, with no other plans in mind, except for his wandering through the Chinese countryside it… you know what? Never mind. It fits.
Here’s the thing…. we can’t ever know that. HOwever much this show had continuity this season, it’s more than likely not going to spread to next season. Unless Louis himself comes out and says it was a daydream… you have ot assume it was real, since it ended as reality, if a surreal one.
Will Parker Posey get nominated for a guest star Emmy? Or maybe David Lynch?
I was gigggling like a school girl every time Lynch would say something. 1,2,3…funny time. Oh you want me to start at 3?
Just … wow.
And yeah, this show is impossible to explain.
The villager at the end is actually saying, “Please come frequently to Beijing to be a guest in my home.”
I’ve been in a shitty mood all day, so the opening with his efforts to fix that doll really cheared me up. Then, oh man, did I bum hard. Then I had a moment of euphoria at the end.
Really great episode. I really did not like Liz but I was really distraught to see her die, but only for Louie really.
I went from laughing my head off at the doll sequence, to being shocked, to finally feeling at peace at the end. I don’t think any other show is that much of a rollercoaster. Except for Honey Boo Boo.
I think you’re confusing “roller coaster” with “train wreck”
Parker Posey HAD to die……Pamela Adlon will be returning from her trip soon…
Man, I have never gone from pure giddiness to bone crunching heartbreak like that before in any show. I really feel like crying after seeing that.
I can’t describe how this show just looks into my soul. Stop it Louie.
And how depressing is Guy Lombardos’ Auld Lang Syne?
“I love you Louie” – Amy Poehler
She did say it with a lot of conviction. A lot more than just acting.
I hope next season is all about him in China
Such a brilliant show. This particular episode felt uncanny to me.
The scene with Lily & Jane as adults was hilarious
I was going to say that the message I got from the show was ‘Always Choose Alone’ but then China happened, and I actually felt that life isn’t a festering cesspool of misery.
If this season is A-, how the fuck does someone to about earning an A+? Sheesh.
The part where Louis watches his ex-wife and her boyfriend? Husband? leave with his kids in the elevator was like being punched in the stomach to me. They looked like a happy family portrait which I’m sure was part of the point and Whooo boy, did it work.
Pretty interesting…i think its an awesome show. i enjoy it. im a big fan of various shows and have noticed that a few of them use airsoft guns now for gun scenes [www.airsplat.com] and i think its very smart and cost effective.